The government has plans to run an aggressive campaign in the Dominican Republic in a bid to discourage poaching in Bahamian waters.

Poaching by Dominicans, a major concern for Bahamian fishermen and the government, is slated to be among discussions when ministers meet with Republic officials next week.#The ministerial delegation includes Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell, Bernard Nottage, National Security Minister and Financial Services Minister Ryan Pinder and Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources V Alfred Gray. They will return on November 1.#“A myriad of issues will be discussed,” said Mr Gray, “including the problem of Dominicans fishing in our waters and what resolutions we might be able to find to cause the elimination of that poaching or to certainly reduce it.”#The government’s plan, Mr Gray said, has now taken on a three pronged approach since fishermen first explained that the fisheries industry was being endangered at the hands of the Dominicans.#“We are going to seek the government’s assistance in bringing the problems of fishing to its (Dominican Republic) nationals.#“If the (Dominican) government is willing to assist in that regard then we as a government will seek to use our best efforts to have a public relations campaign in the Dominican Republic so that the television, the newspapers (or) whatever means of getting the message is out to them. More....